PY 241 - Introduction to Behavior Analysis

Description
This course provides an overview of the concepts, principles, and applications of behavior analysis. It examines the theoretical foundations and underpinnings of behavioral psychology as it relates to respondent and operant conditioning, contingency analyses, and the critical examination of empirical data. The course also introduces students to the applications of behavior analysis in areas such as self-management, child management, autism, developmental disabilities, behavioral gerontology, business and industry, community behavior analysis, animal training, ethics, and psychological disorders.

Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours: 3
Prerequisites/Other Requirements: None
English Prerequisite(s): None
Math Prerequisite(s): None
Course Corequisite(s): None
Academic Program Prerequisite: None
Consent to Enroll in Course: No Department Consent Required
Dual Enrollment Allowed?: Yes
Number of Times Course can be taken for credit: 1
Programs Where This Course is a Requirement:
None

Other Courses Where This Course is a Prerequisite: PY285
Other Courses Where this Course is a Corequisite: None
Other Courses Where This course is included in within the Description: None

General Education Requirement:
None
Course Learning Outcomes:

Identify the core assumptions and theoretical underpinnings of the behavioral perspective.
Describe the basic principles and procedures associated with different types of conditioning.
Summarize best practices associated with antecedent based interventions.
Select appropriate methods for the analysis of behavior.
Describe considerations in the development and selection of behavioral programs.
Understand historical and ethical issues related to the field of behavioral analysis.
Describe considerations in the development and selection of behavioral therapy.
Evaluate information to identify limitations and biases.
Create a written summary of the main ideas extracted from information gathered.

Course Outline:
I. THE BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE

A. Identify core assumptions and philosophical underpinnings.

B. Identify areas of application.

II. BASIC BEHAVIORAL PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES

A. Identify the principles and procedures associated with respondent conditioning.

B. Identify the principles and procedures associated with operant conditioning.

C. Distinguish between unconditioned and conditioned consequences.

D. Identify the principles and procedures associated with operant extinction.

E. Describe the considerations involved with stimulus control and generality.

III. PROCEDURES ASSOCIATED WITH ANTECEDENT VARIABLES

A. Summarize strategies for using rules and goals.

B. Describe factors that influence the effectiveness of modeling, guidance, and inducement.

C. Describe the behavioral view of motivation.

IV. DATA ANALYSIS

A. Explain the relevant considerations for behavioral assessment.

B. Outline research designs commonly used within behavioral research.

V. THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE BEHAVIOR PROGRAMS

A. Describe considerations in the design of programs for behavioral problems.

B. Summarize steps to ensure successful implementation of behavioral programs.

VI. BEHAVIOR THERAPY

A. Critically evaluate current research on behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapies.

B. Describe common behavioral treatments for various psychological disorders.

VII. HISTORICAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES

A. Be able to outline the early history of behavioral analysis.

B. Explain a behavioral view of ethics.

C. Evaluate arguments for and against the control of behavior.

Approved for Online and Hybrid Delivery?:
No
Instructional Strategies:
Lecture: 40-70%
Group/Lab Work: 10-40%
Mediated Instruction: 5-25%
Evidence Based Writing: 5-25%
Academic Service Learning: 0-10%
Mandatory Course Components:
Evidence based writing Experiential lab component
Equivalent Courses:
None

Accepted GRCC Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Credit: None
AP Min. Score: NA
Name of Industry Recognize Credentials: NA

Course prepares students to seek the following external certification:
No
Course-Specific Placement Test: None
Course Aligned with ARW/IRW Pairing: N/A

Mandatory Department Assessment Measures:
None

Course Type:
Elective- Offering designed to expand learning opportunities for degree seeking students. May or may not be required for students in a specific GRCC program.
Course Format:
Lecture - 1:1
Total Lecture Hours Per Week: 3
People Soft Course ID Number: 104646
Course CIP Code: 42.01
Maximum Course Enrollment: 36
School: School of STEM
Department: Psychology
Discipline: PY
Faculty Credential Requirements:
18 graduate credit hours in discipline being taught (HLC Requirement), Master’s Degree (GRCC general requirement)
Faculty Credential Requirement Details:
Requirements to teach this course are a Master’s degree in Psychology.

Major Course Revisions: N/A
Last Revision Date Effective: 20250224T20:23:13
Course Review & Revision Year: 2029-2030